Sweden Seeks Faster Approval for New Online Casino Games

The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS), which speaks on behalf of 18 gambling companies and game developers in the country, has formally asked the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) for simpler and smoother approval procedures for innovative online casino games.

One Year of Delays

After nearly a year of discussions between BOS and the SGA, the industry group expressed concerns that unclear regulations are slowing down the rollout of new game types and weakening the competitive edge of licensed operators.

In their letter to the SGA, BOS explained the need for detailed guidance on crash games, arcade-style formats, video bingo, and socially interactive live casino experiences and game shows. 

All these games fall under the “other” category, and they bring together standard casino features and elements inspired by video games. This mix automatically sends them into a gray area, where they are harder to classify according to current regulations.

BOS further argued that these new types of games should clearly fit within the existing definitions set out in the Swedish Gambling Act to speed up innovation and protect licensed operators from falling behind offshore competitors who are not bound by the same slow approval procedures.

“The pace of innovation in the gambling industry is high, and it is very important that the licensed gambling market can quickly offer consumers new, attractive games,” said Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of BOS.

Hoffstedt also expressed hope that their dialogue with the SGA and their letter to them would represent “a big step in the right direction.”

“We want new, attractive gambling products with regulatory certainty to be quickly included in the legal licence market,” he added.

Safety First

Consumer safety is also a growing concern in the country. A 2025 survey found that 72% of Swedish players couldn’t tell licensed from unlicensed gambling sites, underscoring the importance of keeping the legal market vibrant and competitive.

BOS warns that when popular games aren’t available through licensed channels, players often turn to the black market. 

To address this, the association has asked the SGA to confirm that new game types fall under current casino definitions, allow licensees to offer games like crash formats with proper oversight, and publish FAQs to clarify these points for operators and consumers alike.

Looking ahead, Hoffstedt shared his thoughts in Gambling Insider magazine, emphasizing the need for innovation and regulation to go hand in hand in the European gambling landscape over the next decade and a half.